If I had to say that oath at graduation, I would have a conversation with my principal that might look like this:

Me: Do I have to say the oath?
P: Yep
Me: But I don't believe in god. I don't want to say that part because it's a lie.
P: Then you won't graduate.
Me: So I have to lie or never graduate? My choices are lie or have no future?
P: It's just words. You can say it regardless of whether you mean it.
Me: Cool. So the whole thing is just words that I can say without meaning? In fact, I can lie about the whole thing from start to finish?
P: That's not the point.
Me: But I can, right?
P: If that's how you feel, then yes, I guess you can.
Me: So if it's OK to lie about every word, and even the administrators don't really care if I mean this oath or not, why even bother making me or anyone else say it? It has no meaning, so why say it at all?

At which point, being a high school kid, I would be ignored and/or threatened until I submitted and said the damn oath.

"Whores perform the same function as priests, but far more thoroughly." - Robert A. Heinlein

(26-01-2013 02:24 PM)Birdguy1979 Wrote: I don't think it matters. It is not like by saying those words as a non-believer you burst into flames and die. If you did, that might constitute proof of god. Just like all of our politicians saying the same thing and then being completely self serving and raping the tax payers whenever possible, you don't actually need to mean it.

(26-01-2013 02:12 PM)Mr Woof Wrote: So idiot Christians will be favoured over brilliant atheists who refuse to lie over their dedication.

And that's America.

In high school this wouldn't have bothered me, but now I realize that allowing it not to bother you, is being part of the problem. It's extremely offensive and should be treated accordingly.

When it's bullshit, you have to call bullshit.

I watched the beginning of the presidential inauguration, and it was, in a similar way to this, a complete embarrassment, that made me sick to my stomach. As a human being, I couldn't see myself being put through something like that, in its entirety, and come out feeling like I had an ounce of virtue. I could kind of see how someone else could keep quiet through it and/or not just leave, but at a minimum, I would have to lose respect for such a person.

The Paradox Of Fools And Wise Men:
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser men so full of doubts.” ― Bertrand Russell